Illinois State Redbirds vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons: NIT 2nd Round Matchup

Illinois State opens as 7-point underdogs against Wake Forest in Sunday's NIT second-round game.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 7:01pm

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The Illinois State Redbirds (21-12) will travel to LJVM Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to take on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (18-16) in the second round of the NIT on Sunday, March 22, 2026. Illinois State enters the game as 7-point underdogs against the home-standing Demon Deacons.

Why it matters

This matchup features two teams looking to advance in the NIT postseason tournament. Illinois State is seeking to continue its tournament run after defeating Kent State in the first round, while Wake Forest is hoping to protect its home court and move one step closer to an NIT championship.

The details

In their first-round NIT win over Kent State, the Redbirds were led by Landon Wolf, who scored 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting. As a team, Illinois State shot 42.2% from the field and 37.1% from three-point range. The Demon Deacons, meanwhile, are coming off an 82-72 victory over Navy in which Juke Harris scored 26 points and dished out 5 assists. Wake Forest shot 48.2% overall and 26.7% from deep in that game.

  • The game will be played on Sunday, March 22, 2026.
  • Illinois State defeated Kent State 79-58 in the first round of the NIT on March 19, 2026.
  • Wake Forest defeated Navy 82-72 in the first round of the NIT on March 19, 2026.

The players

Landon Wolf

A key contributor for Illinois State, scoring 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting in the Redbirds' first-round NIT win.

Juke Harris

Led Wake Forest with 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists in the Demon Deacons' first-round NIT victory over Navy.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready to compete at a high level against a tough Illinois State team that is battle-tested from their conference play.”

— Steve Forbes, Head Coach, Wake Forest Demon Deacons

“Our guys have been playing with a lot of energy and focus in the postseason. We're excited for the challenge of facing Wake Forest on the road.”

— Ryan Pedon, Head Coach, Illinois State Redbirds

What’s next

The winner of this second-round NIT matchup will advance to the quarterfinals, which are scheduled for March 25, 2026.

The takeaway

This NIT second-round game features two teams looking to extend their postseason runs, with Illinois State seeking an upset on the road against a talented Wake Forest squad. The outcome could come down to which team's star players - Landon Wolf for the Redbirds and Juke Harris for the Demon Deacons - can lead their teams to victory.